Bell to run for Gainesville City Council

GAINESVILLE - Former Hall County Commissioner Ashley Bell says he's ready to run for office again. This time he plans to run for a seat on the Gainesville City Council.

Bell mentioned late last month that he was thinking about a run for council, and he made the formal announcement Monday.

"As a lifelong resident of Gainesville I look forward to bringing my experience in business, government and community service to be an advocate for all of Gainesville," Bell said.

Bell has previously run for the Ward 1 post on the council.

"Gainesville City Council is kind of where it started for me and local government," said Bell. "I ran for this exact same seat about six years ago."

Bell, an attorney with Washington & Bell, was elected to the Hall County Commission in 2008 and at 27 became the county's youngest elected commissioner. He lost the commission post to Jeff Stowe in the 2012 general election.

Bell was recently recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia's Top 40 Under 40.